Dances with Dirt Gnaw Bone

About the Event

Dances with Dirt (DWD) Gnaw Bone is one of the most rugged and eccentric trail events in the Midwest, held in the deep woods of Brown County, Indiana. Scheduled for Saturday, May 16, 2026, the race is staged just outside Nashville, IN. Known for its "shock and awe" terrain, the course features vicious 600-foot ridges, creek crossings, and steep scrambles that challenge the grit of even the most experienced ultra-runners.

Race Categories and Technical Stats

DWD Gnaw Bone is famous for hosting what is often called the "world's most difficult 10K," where runners are warned to expect double their typical road time. The event offers a massive range of distances to accommodate all levels of trail enthusiasts.

Category	Distance Type	Terrain Difficulty	Format
50 Mile / 50K	Ultra-marathon	Extreme Ridge Climbing	Individual
26.2M / 13.1M	Full / Half Marathon	Technical Singletrack	Individual
10K / 5K	Short Course	High Effort Scrambles	Individual
50 Mile Relay	Ultra-marathon	Pure Trail Mayhem	Team

The DWD Experience

The race philosophy prioritizes "grit and laughter," combining a high-stakes physical challenge with a festive, community-driven atmosphere.

- Relay Mayhem: The team relay format encourages eccentric team names and a "wild side" approach, navigating through mud, creeks, and steep hills.
- Post-Race Celebration: All entries include access to a post-race barbecue bash and locally crafted brews, fostering a strong social environment at the finish line.
- Course Marking: Despite the chaotic nature of the terrain, the course is fully marked with aid stations provided throughout the various distances.
- Awards: Competitive runners are eligible for overall male and female awards, as well as age-group awards (three deep) in five-year increments.

Venue and Local Attraction

Brown County offers a unique backdrop that blends intense wilderness with a refined artisan culture.

- Location: Nashville, Indiana, is located just 3 miles from the race start. It is an artisan community featuring over 200 galleries and shops, providing an excellent weekend destination for families and supporters.
- Natural Beauty: The trails are located within the scenic hardwood forests of Southern Indiana, which provide significant vertical relief and technical variety not often found in the Midwest.
- Atmosphere: DWD Gnaw Bone is part of the larger Dances with Dirt series, known for its irreverent spirit and focus on the raw, unpolished side of trail running.

water_drop 74.9%

Temp (°C)

Feels Like (°C)

Wind (km/h)

Humidity (%)

thermostat 15.7° / 25.8°

wb_sunny 15.3° / 25.6°

air 9.8 km/h

water_drop 74.9%

About Nashville

Learn more about the host city, Nashville.

Nashville is the capital of the American state of Tennessee. With 716,000 residents in 2022, it is the state's largest city. Nashville is sometimes called the "Country Music Capital of the World" or more often "Music City, USA"; however, Nashville has done much to escape its country music image and become a regional center of culture and commerce. In fact, Dell, Nissan, and Amazon have all moved some operations to or near the city. The music is various; major rap artists and rock bands claim Nashville as their hometown, and the city is also the epicenter of the contemporary Christian music industry. Nashville has been the home of the world-famous Grand Ole Opry since 1925. Nashville also has a great bar scene. If you like to drink, you can go "Honky-tonking," also known as bar-hopping. This is the act of visiting and drinking at multiple bars in one evening or day.